American Revolution Guide

I have been writing about the America Revolutionary War for over five years now and have compiled quite a few articles that deal with that period. I wanted to create this page to try and organize the information that has been spread out across the website. This will provide easy access for students looking for information about a specific topic relating to this time period or for those wanting to understand the trials their ancestor had to go through. Please refer to this page when trying to find information about a certain topic.

The Thirteen Colonies

New England Colonies: The New England Colonies consisted of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. These colonies were the most supportive of the Revolution and became a hotbed of resistance. At the time of the Revolution slavery had already been abolished in these colonies.

Middle Colonies: The Middle Colonies consisted of: Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. The middle colonies were divided when it came to Independence more-so due to its high Tory and Quaker population.

Southern Colonies: The Southern Colonies consisted of: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. With exception of Virginia, the Southern Colonies were against Independence. Dominos began to fall when Virginia came out for Independence. Virginia was the largest colony in America at the time and had the most influence. These colonies were against the emancipation of slaves. Most of the influential leaders in the South were slaveowners.

Declaration of Independence

The Signers of the Declaration of Independence: The story of the Declaration of Independence is more complex and filled with more drama than what we see in history books. This time period has been romanticized to the point where it appears everyone came together with a sound mind and rallied for independence. However, there was much political turmoil and division throughout the process. This page contains the entire story of how the Declaration of Independence came to be and links to the biographies of the signers.

Declaration of Independence: This is the full text of the Declaration of Independence.

Revolutionary War Logistics: Battles are often studied, but what usually determines the victor is the logistics. This is a detailed article about the logistics of the Revolutionary War and how success in this area allowed the American’s to defeat the British.

Slavery During the Revolutionary War: In 1776 there was much division concerning the issue of slavery. The issue was left out of the Declaration of Independence due to the Middle and Southern Colonies dependence on its institution. This article talks about the issue during the American Revolution and how the British used it to their advantage.

The Hessians: The use of mercenaries was common in European warfare. This article is a comprehensive overview of the structure, mindset, and leadership of the Hessian army.

Important People

George Washington: He became the most famous American during this time period and would be given the honor of being called the Father of His Country. George Washington’s rise to fame was not easy and throughout the Revolution he had to deal with many ambitious men trying to undermine him. He shocked the entire world when he returned to private life after the war. He would later be unanimously elected as President of the United States.

John Adams: Often regarded as the voice of the Revolution. Adams led the debate on the floor during the Continental Congress for Independence. He would also serve as a diplomat to France, The Dutch Republic, and England.

Thomas Jefferson: The author of the Declaration of Independence and leading figure in political thinking during the Revolution. Jefferson served as Governor of Virginia and as a diplomat to France. Upon returning to America he served as Washington’s Secretary of State, Vice-President to John Adams, and the 3rd President of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin: The elder statesmen of the Revolution and crafty diplomat, Franklin was the most famous American prior to the Revolution. He had already served as a colonial representative in England, was a famous inventor, and an influential printer. Franklin is one of the more fascinating character of the Revolution.

John Hancock: Known as the purse of the Revolution due to his financial support for the rebels in Boston, Hancock was the President of the Continental Congress and a wealthy merchant. He along with Samuel Adams were key figures at the beginning of the Revolution.

Samuel Adams: The cousin to John Adams and a leading figure in the Sons of Liberty. Samuel Adams was an influential figure at the beginning of the Revolution.

Paul Revere: Revere’s service has been a bit overstated. He was an integral part at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, but not the most important piece.

Sir William Howe: Howe was commander of the British forces at the beginning of the war. He led successful campaigns in New York and Philadelphia. He was a brilliant tactician.

Important Events

Boston Massacre: A mob intimidated a group of British soldiers. In retaliation the British soldiers fired into the crowd and killed a handful of colonists. Crispus Attucks, a free black man, was the first casualty. The massacre became important propaganda for the Sons of Liberty.

Boston Massacre Trial: The British Soldiers were tried in the courts of Massachusetts and found it difficult to find representation. A young John Adams took the case and defended the soldiers against future fellow signer Robert Treat Paine.

Paul Revere’s Ride: The midnight ride of Paul Revere was actually much more complicated and sophisticated than the poem written about it 90 years later. The midnight ride consisted of over 40 riders alarming the various militias.

Revolutionary War Genealogy

How To Find Your Revolutionary War Ancestor: A quick guide on finding your Revolutionary War Ancestor. Veterans of the Revolutionary War are well-documented, but there is a snag that you will have to overcome and that will be the 1790 – 1840 Census Reports.

Daughters of the American Revolution: A society dedicated to the preservation of Revolutionary War ancestors. To become a member you must prove your ancestry goes back to the American Revolution.